African-American Group in Dimona Faced Down IDF in ’86, Now Celebrates First Member To Become Israeli CitizenBy Andrew Esensten
The Jewish Daily
Forward.com
Elyahkeem Ben Yehuda could have become another statistic, growing up poor, black and fatherless on the west side of Chicago during the 1950s.
But he never had a run-in with the law, nor did he see the inside of a jail cell, until he moved to Israel to join the African Hebrew Israelite community. “I had to come to Israel to get my first experience in jail,” he said. “But in those days, that was like a badge of honor, to be arrested for God and His people.”
Last month, the 62-year-old Ben Yehuda — father of 10 children and husband of 3 women — became the first member of his community to gain full Israeli citizenship. Looking back on the hurdles he overcame since his 1971 arrival, Ben Yehuda mused, “I can only describe this journey in relationship to my forefathers,” referring to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. “They were able to endure. As long as we put fulfilling the will of the God of Israel first, there’s no challenge that we can’t overcome.”
The past year has brought even greater acceptance for the Black Hebrews. In August 2008, Israel’s president, Shimon Peres, celebrated his 85th birthday in Dimona, where he visited their settlement, the Village of Peace, and was effusive in his praise of Ben Ammi and his people. “Your community is beloved in Israel,” Peres said. “You give the country happiness and song and hope for a better world.” He assured the Black Hebrews that Israel does not tolerate discrimination, and he pledged to facilitate their transition to citizenship. “Our hands are in yours; your destiny must be our destiny,” Peres said.
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2 comments:
SE'U SHARIM RASHECHEM V'NASU PTCHEY OLAM, V'YAVO V'YAVO, V'YAVO MELECH HAKAVOD! MI HU ZE, MELECH HAKAVOD? MI HU ZE, MELECH HAKAVOD? YHWH IZOOZ V'GIBOR, YHWH GOBOR MILCHAMA!
MI HU ZE, MELECH HAKAVOD? MI HU ZE, MELECH HAKAVOD?
YHWH TSEVA'OT ADONAYNU HAMASHYACH, HU MELECH HAKAVOD! HalleluYah! HalleluYah! HalleluYah! Yah Khai! Yah Khai! Yah Khai!
Ben Ammi Ben Israel is a sterling example as a Spiritual Leader, of how raise up and guide a people into Nationhood and draw peace and co-operation from nations around you and within whose borders you dwell .
He fought against malevelence, slander, mis-representation, discrimination and spiritual invalidation; in the process he took on the Federal US Government, the FBI, The IDF and challenges from within by the disaffected who then departed.
Every time his words were " ..we have to invoke Yah Yisrael on our side!
He did not challenge every attack but focussed on building His nation from within and bridges across difficult division in many cases. Was strategic in his defence an dtha tof his people.
Today, 40+ years on the evidence speaks. The 'social experiment' is a success; moreover, the Spiritual prophetic destiny of his vision has been verified. What is more profound, he is so humble... a testimony to the fact that humility is one of the most powerful attributes of the human character. And it does not mean an absence of challenge and strong leadership or positions.
He crossed over like Abba Abraham and Emah Sarah, Abba Moshe and Emah Ziporrah into the promised Land and brought the God of Israel's empowering presence into the midst of his people!
" I will bless those that bless you and curse those that curse you! HalleluYah! Selah
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